The Vietnamese Government has agreed to join the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) to prevent and fight IUU fishing (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government has agreedto join the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) of the UN Food andAgriculture Organisation (FAO) to prevent and fight illegal, unreported, andunregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Government assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development tocoordinate with relevant agencies in implementing the agreement in line withcurrent regulations.
Adopted by FAO member countries in 2009, the agreement took effect on June 5,2016. It is assessed to be a turning point in the fight against law violationsin the fisheries sector.
According to the US’sGlobal Policy Journal website, Vietnam may become a model for ASEAN countriesin fighting IUU fishing.
Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc issued a national action plan to crack down on IUU fishing. As part of this drive, 62 seafood companieshave joined to ensure sustainable practices.
The government hasissued several decrees and directives, supplemented IUU fishing regulations tolegal documents, enforced regulations, held educational workshops forfishermen, enhanced cooperation with coastal and island countries to preventIUU fishing and organized regular dialogues with the EU on efforts to improvefisheries management.
Other measures includeplacing observers, many of whom are former fishing captains, aboard commercialtrawlers to monitor catches.
Additionally, fishingcaptains have been encouraged to keep an accurate logbook or registry ofcatches for inspection or become subject to fines up to 2,000 USD and revocationof commercial fishing licences.-VNA
VNA
